Decision Makers
Board of Directors
Constance H. Lau was named director, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE – HE), holding company for Hawaii’s electric utility and its third largest financial institution in May 2006. This appointment designates her as one of only 20 female chief executives at the helm of a Fortune 1,000 company, and one of fourteen women leading an electric utility in the country. Connie will also chair the board of HE’s electric utility, Hawaiian Electric Company, which provides electric service to 95% of the residents of the state of Hawaii.
In addition to her new role at Hawaiian Electric Industries, Connie will add the title of chairman of the board to her present titles of president and CEO of American Savings Bank, Hawaii’s third largest bank with $6.9 billion in assets, which she has headed since June 2001. Connie is also president of the Hawaii Bankers Association and is ranked #11 in the country in U. S. Banker magazine’s ranking of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking in the U. S.
Connie joined HE in 1984, and has been a valued executive with the Hawaiian Electric Industries companies since then. Before joining the bank, Connie was Treasurer of the parent company, and Assistant Corporate Counsel and Treasurer for Hawaiian Electric Company, as well as Chief Financial Officer of HEI Power Corp., HEI’s international power subsidiary. In late 1999 she became Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of American Savings Bank and became President and CEO in June 2001. She began her career as a corporate attorney in San Francisco and has been involved in finance, law, real estate development, investments and international business.
In addition to being recognized nationally by U. S. Banker magazine as one of the top 25 most powerful women in banking, Connie was ranked for the second year in a row in the “Fast Lane” top five for transforming American Savings Bank from a sleepy thrift into a fast-growing player in Hawaii’s business community. She was also named “Business Leader of the Year” at the 2004 Pacific Business News Leadership Hawaii event, a prestigious award in Hawaii’s business community.
Connie believes in actively supporting the community and is a trustee or director of several educational and non-profit organizations such as Punahou School, Kamehameha Schools (Hawaii’s largest private landowner), the Hawaii Business Roundtable, Charles Reed Bishop Trust, the Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation and the Maunalani Foundation. She is also a board member of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (NASDAQ – ALEX).
Connie earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Yale University, her juris doctor law degree from the University of California’s Hastings College of Law and received her Master’s in Business Administration from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. She is married to Russell Lau and they have three children.
Mr. Richardson joined HEI as the vice president-general counsel in August of 2007. Immediately prior to joining HEI, Mr. Richardson served as the deputy general counsel for Alliant Energy, a Madison, WI-based public utility holding company. Mr. Richardson spent many years of his career in Hawaii, starting with the Army’s JAGC at Schofield Barracks, followed by Case, Kay & Lynch, and then at Amfac in Honolulu, where he rose to general counsel. He later followed Amfac and Amfac’s acquirer, JMB Realty, to the mainland.
Mr. Richardson holds a bachelor of science degree in engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a masters in business administration from Northwestern University, and a juris doctorate from Georgetown University.
Mr. Harada joined the HEI companies in 1989, as director of internal audit of Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. In 1991, Mr. Harada became the controller of HEI. Prior to joining the HEI companies, Mr. Harada served as the director of financial assurance and controller at PacTel Corporation, a subsidiary of Pacific Telesis Group in San Francisco, California. He also was audit supervisor at Coopers and Lybrand in Honolulu and Rooney, Ida, Nolt and Ahern in Oakland, California. He received his bachelor of science of business administration from the University of California at Berkeley in 1977 and his master of science in taxation from Golden Gate University in 1987. He is a certified public accountant in California and Hawaii.
Mr. Watanabe graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a juris doctor degree from the George Washington University Law Center. In addition to sitting on the boards of a number of for-profit corporations in Hawaii and the mainland U.S., he serves as a trustee on numerous nonprofit boards, including The Sesame Workshop, the Consuelo Foundation and The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii.
Mr. Myers successfully restructured companies such as Waste Management, Inc. and Yellow Corporation. He serves as a director of Tesoro Petroleum and Keep America Beautiful. Mr. Myers holds a bachelor’s degree from California State University at Fullerton and a master of business administration degree from Long Beach State University.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Hawaiian Telcom Communications, Inc. |
Senior Vice President & General Counsel |
Current |
| Hawaiian Telcom Communications, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Hawaiian Telcom Communications, Inc. |
Senior Advisor |
Former |
| The Carlyle Group Inc. |
counsel |
Former |
| U.S. Navy |
Supply Corps Officer |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Wailea Golf LLC |
President |
Current |
| Maui Electric Company, Limited |
Advisory Board Member |
Current |
| Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. |
Board Director |
Current |
| Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. |
Director |
Current |
| Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Former |
| William S. Richardson School of Law |
Juris Doctor Degree |
Former |
| University of Hawaii |
Bba |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Carlsmith Ball Llp |
Managing Partner |
Current |
| Maui Electric Company, Limited |
Advisory Board Member |
Current |
| Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. |
Director |
Current |
| George Washington University Law Center |
Juris Doctor Degree |
Former |
Mr. Taniguchi earned his bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Hawaii. He is a certified public accountant (not in public practice). He serves on numerous nonprofit boards on Oahu and the Big Island, including the Hawaii Community Foundation, Queen’s Health Systems and the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Hawai'I Community Foundation |
Chairman |
Current |
| Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. |
Director |
Current |
| Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, Inc |
Board Member |
Current |
| Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. |
Director |
Current |
| Puna Plantation Hawaii Ltd. |
Chief Executive Officer |
Former |
| American Savings Bank, F.S.B. |
Board of Directors |
Former |
| Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Former |
| University of Hawaii |
Bachelor of Business Administration Degree |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| The Mills Group, LLC |
Chairman |
Current |
| Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. |
Director |
Current |
| Hawai'I Community Foundation |
Director |
Current |
| Grace Pacific Corporation |
Director |
Current |
| Hawaii Pacific University |
Director |
Current |
Ms. Plotts received a bachelor of science degree in accounting from San Jose State University. She is currently a trustee of the Kamehameha Schools. Ms. Plotts has 30 years of hotel development experience as a general partner of Hemmeter Investment Company.
Mr. Carroll holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from San Jose State University and a master of business administration degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Business. Mr. Carroll serves on the boards of directors of the Boy Scouts Aloha Council, the American Red Cross (Hawaii Chapter) and The Hawaii Nature Center and is a member of Oceanic Time Warner Cable's advisory board. He is chairman of Broadband iTV and is also a director of Pacific Guardian Life Insurance Company and Island Insurance.
Dr. Scott earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Stanford University, a master’s degree in private school leadership from the University of San Francisco, and master’s and doctorate degrees in administration, planning and social policy from Harvard University. He is a trustee of the Barstow Foundation and Blood Bank of Hawaii. Dr. Scott also serves as a director of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Hawaii Public Television, Pacific Asian Affairs Council and the Secondary School Admission Test Board.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Blood Bank of Hawaii |
Trustee |
Current |
| Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. |
Director |
Current |
| Harvard University |
Master's and Doctorate Degrees in Administration, Planning and Social Policy |
Former |
| University of San Francisco |
Master's Degree in Private School Leadership |
Former |
| Stanford University |
Bachelor's Degree in Political Science |
Former |
Mr. Taketa graduated from Colorado College and Hastings College of Law. Under his direction, Hawaii Community Foundation has become a leader in philanthropy, providing charitable services to donors and strategic grant making to support nonprofit agencies. He serves on several business and nonprofit agency boards, including Hookupu Fund, Grove Farm Company, Inc. and Civic Ventures.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Hawai'I Community Foundation |
Chief Executive Officer |
Current |
| Hawai'I Community Foundation |
President |
Current |
| Civic Ventures |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Independent Sector |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Grove Farm Company Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Hawaii Superferry, Inc. |
|
Former |
| Colorado College |
Graduate |
Former |
| Hastings College of the Law |
Graduate |
Former |
Oswald K. Stender - Director, Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., a public utility holding company, since 1993; trustee, the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Estate 1990-1999; trustee, Office of Hawaiian Affairs and a member or trustee of several community organizations. Other Directorships held by Trustee - Trustee, Pacific Capital Funds, which includes 11 bond and stock funds; director, Grace Pacific Corporation, an asphalt paving company.
Mr. Gushman attended Ohio Wesleyan University. He is the managing partner of Summit Financial Resources, a Salt Lake City, Utah-based financial services company. Mr. Gushman is also a director of the Oceanic Cablevision advisory board, the Outrigger Hotels, Servco Pacific Inc., Hawaii Pacific University and The Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii.
Executive News
-
Fowler named to Hawaii board
Biz Journals - 8/10/09 - View Story
-
Hawaiian Electric Company Announces Appointment to Its Board of Directors
TradingMarkets - 8/10/09 - View Story
-
Hawaiian Electric Company Announces Appointment to Its Board of Directors
Reuters - 8/10/09 - View Story
-
Hawaiian Electric Company Announces Appointment to Its Board of Directors
Investors Business Daily - 8/10/09 - View Story
-
Hawaiian Electric Company Announces Appointment to Its Board of Directors
RBC Dain Raushcer - 8/10/09 - View Story
-
Fowler named to Hawaii board
The Business Journal of Portland - 8/10/09 - View Story
-
HECO names new board member
Pacific Business News (Honolulu) - 8/10/09 - View Story
-
Hawaiian Electric Industries sees Q2 profit
Biz Journals - 8/07/09 - View Story
-
Hawaiian Electric Industries sees Q2 profit
Pacific Business News (Honolulu) - 8/07/09 - View Story
-
HEI reports $15.5M 2nd-quarter profit
TradingMarkets - 8/07/09 - View Story
-
Tax charge gives HEI a lift
Honolulu Star Bulletin - 8/07/09 - View Story